Infant&#39;s restraining harness



Dec. 30, 1952 E. D. LAW

INFANTS RESTRAINING HARNESS Filed July 5, 1949 BIKE-1:3

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Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to restraining harnesses, constructed of fabrictape or the like flexible materials, for use by infants to insure safeconfinement of the latter in cribs or chairs.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved harness of theclass described, designed to embrace an unusually large area of theinfants torso so that pressure of the harness, in straining movements ofthe infant, will be widely distributed and minimized rather than beingconcentrated in any particular body area which is characteristically afault of many presently available devices of this nature.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved harness of thetype referred to which utilizes no crotch straps or the like elementscapable of rubbing against and possibly chafing tender body areas of theinfant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a restraining harnessfor infants utilizing relatively separate girdle bands so disposed as tocause very little cramping in the regions of the wearers heart,respiratory organs or stomach, thereby reducing materially the possibleinfliction of discomfort on the infant.

Still another object of the invention i to provide an improvedrestraining harness of the character described which may be convenientlyconstructed in its entirety from standard readily available fabric tapeand is devoid of specially shaped or constructed parts which would tendto increase production costs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a device of the naturereferred to which is of generally open construction so as to provide foradequate ventilation of the torso portion of the infant embraced by therestraining harness.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the followingdescription of the preferred form of the invention which is illustratedin the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It isto be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by thesaid drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of theinvention as set forth in the claim.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, in frontal aspect, of an infant wearingthe improved restraining harness of my invention.

Figure 2 is a smaller perspective view in posterior aspect of the subject of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the detached restrainingharness.

Figure 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of a portion of therestraining harness showing the connection of one of the tether strapswith the main girdle band to provide for temporary tangentialinter-relationship between the strap and band.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevationalview showing modified meansfor affording temporary relative tangential interconnection between thetether straps and the girdle band.

Figure 6 is a View similar to Figure 5 showing a modified arrangementfor connection of the tether straps to the girdle band. 7

In its preferred form, the restraining harness of my invention, composedin its entirety of fabric or other equivalentsoft, pliable material ofadequate tensile strength, comprises a pair of relatively spaced andpreferably parallel girdle traps l and 8 interconnected in intermediateportions thereof by suspender straps of U-shaped form whose bightsections comprise shoulder loops 9 and whose opposite end sectionscomprise relatively spaced connectors II traversing the girdle straps Iand 8 and attached thereto in any suitable manner, preferably by meansof stitching it. At least two tether straps l3 are provided, an end ofeach being fastened, preferably by stitching [4, to the strap 1 atpoints on the latter aligned with the shoulder loops 9. The girdlestraps 1 and 8, which are preferably coextensive, are of suflicientlength to completely encircle the childs body with some overlap of theend portions of the straps.

The manner of application ofthe restraining harness to the child is bestillustrated-in Figures 1 and 2 wherein it will be seen that the childsarms are inserted through the opening 16, defined by the shoulder loops9 and the portions of the girdle strap bridging the connectors II, thegirdle straps being then adjusted to encircle the body with the freeends ofthe straps in relatively overlapped positions, safety pins I!being then attached to secure the overlapped ends together. It isimmaterial whether the harness be applied with the girdle strapsoverlapping in front of the wearer as shown in Figure 1 or in the rearas shown in Figure 2, the device being symmetrical in form and beingcapable of attachment in either manner. In-most instances, attachment ofthe device is effected as shown in Figure 2. since the pins [1 will thusbe concealed from the child and the temptation to tamper with andpossibly open the pins is obviated. r

The proportions and arrangement of the various components of the harnessare such that slightly below the horizontal mid-plane of the abdomenthus positioning the main girdle band I in about the aforesaid plane.The other girdle band 8 is positioned so as to extend over the armpitsof the wearer and across the upper portion of the latters chestmaterially above the stomach and heart regions and in an area in whichcomparatively little chest expansion and contraction takes place duringrespiration. Where it is necessary to fit the harness to a youngeror'smaller child, shortening tucks may i be taken in the straps of theshoulder loops 9 which not only constricts the openings it but alsovertically raises the terminal points of the connector straps ll so asto correspondingly raise the main girdle band I to accommodate thesmaller body. Adjustment of the girdle bands 1 and 8 is secured, ofcourse, by varying the degress of relative overlap of the end portionsthereof.

When the restraining harness is properly fitted to the child, asillustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that a circumferentialzone of the body equal to about twenty percent of the total width of theharness between the relatively outer longitudinal edges of the girdlebands I and 8 will be free of any encirclement by a band memher. Thisbared zone, which includes the stomach and heart regions, and aconsiderable portion of the chest, prevents any undue pressure beingimposed by the harness on the vital organs and consequently breathing,digestion and heart action'will not be hindered and the utmost comfortwill be afforded the child regardless of whetherthe latter may be inerect or supine postures. In addition, provision of the relativelyspaced girdle straps affords a maximum degree of surface engagement ofthe torso by the harness while providing a medial open zone in thedevice which effects desirable ventilation of the total embraced areathereby reducing perspiration to a minimum and thereby not onlyrendering the device more comfortable to the child. but'also lesseningthe danger of chafing which might occur due to retarded evaporation ofthe exuded moisture.

In all cases, regardless of the age of the child to which the harness isto be fitted, it is desirable thatthe maximum spacing be maintainedbetween parallel girdle bands 1 and B so as to expose the greatestpossible medial area of the total surface embraced by the harness inorder to minimize torso confinement and to desirably leave the vitalorgan regions uncovered as previously specified. In regard to smallerchildren, it will ,be seen that by simply taking large enough tucks inthe shoulder loops 9 so as to constrict the openings I6 to accommodatethe smaller arms, the girdle bands 1 and 8 will be raised relative tothe upper side of the loops 9 and will occupy substantially the samepositions on the smaller body as the extended device occupies relativeto a larger body. In such reduced condition, to accommodate a smallerchild, the intervening space between the girdle bands is proportionatelywider in relation to the small- 4 or body than the same space widthwould be in relation to a larger body, a condition desirable in that itaffords greater open space over the vital organ regions of the smallerchildren who are more easily made uncomfortable by squeezing pressurethan are considerably older children.

The tether straps 13 function in the usual way and may be attached inend portions to a crib mattress by pins or the like, as shown in Figure1, or may be tied to the side members of chairs or the like objects towhich the harnessed child is to be secured. Furthermore, since thestraps are long, they may be passed entirely around the mattress and thefree ends pinned to an inner portion, thus avoiding the need to pin tothe mattress. By securing the ends of the straps [3 to the main girdleband i, as shown, any straining of the child against the straps will beabsorbed by the abdominal region of the body which is more capable ofwithstanding the strain without causing undue discomfort than are otherzonal areas of the harness. In most instances, the tether straps willextend radially from the girdle straps but in those devices which areintended solely for confining children in high chairs or the like, thestraps it should extend tangentially from the girdle band and be securedat the'point of tangency so as to reduce as much as possible rippingstresses on the stitching Hi. In Figure i adaptation of the standardarrangement illustrated in Figure l and to provide for such tangentialarrangement of the straps i3 is shown. Here it will be seen that thestrap at its junction with the girdle band is given a'biased fold itwhich lays the strap flatly against the band whereupon the engaged flatmembers are engaged by a safety pin it or other securing means such as awire staple. Figure 5 illustrates a further modified means forconditioning the harness to selectivelyprovide for a tangential orradial arrangement of the straps [3 relative to the girdle band. As hereshown, two separate groups 22 of stitching are provided efiectingattachment of the connector straps ll to themain girdle band 1. Thisforms an open loop 23 intermediate the ends of the secured-portion ofeachconnector strap through which the normally radially ex tending strapl3 may be threaded, as illustrated, so that the latter strap thereafterissues tangentially from the girdle band. Depending upon which loop ofrelated pairs thereof may be used, the strap it may be directed, eitherforwardly or rearwardly of the child, to its distal point of anchorage.Figure 6 illustrates permanent attachment of the tether strap and girdleband in longitudinally parallel relation the interconnection of theelements being effected by stitching 2i arranged in a rectangularpattern whose long side is substantially co-parallel with the strap andband.

From the foregoing description of rnyinvention it will be seen that Ihave provided a restraining harness designed to embrace an unusuallylarge area of a childs torso so as to provide for security ofpositioning without the use of crotch straps or otherhold-down. deviceswhich might possibly cause chafing of tender body areas, which is ofopen construction so as to afford adequate ventilationof the embracedarea, which is designed to cause aminimum of discomfort to the'wearerand which iscapable of ready adjustment for accommodation to children ofvarious sizes. It will also be seen that all of the parts comprising theharness may be constructed of straight lengths of standard fabric orother flexible tape capable of rapid fabrication, by the simplestitching operations described, into finished devices.

I claim:

A restraining harness for attachment to the human body comprisingseparate girdle bands for circumferentially embracing, respectively,upper chest and abdominal portions of said body and substantially beyondthe heart and stomach regions thereof, said chest portion band beingsubstantially narrower than said abdominal portion band, said girdlebands having end portions adjustably oonnectable in overlapped relationto various body sizes, U-shaped shoulder straps fixedly connected inspaced relation to medial portions of said chest portion band to providearm-receiving loops, integral extensions of said shoulder strapstransversely disposed between and fixedly connected with the girdlebands to fix the relative spacing between the latter,

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portions of said extensions being relatively decached from saidabdominal region band to form anchor loops, and tether straps secured inend portions thereof to and extending transversely from said latterband, and said tether straps being engageable in said anchor loopswhereby said straps are extended from and in substantially tangentialrelation to said latter band.

EDITH D. LAW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,193,374 Gilliam Aug. 1, 19161,561,399 Begg Nov. 10, 1925 1,651,561 Storey Dec. 6, 1927 1,738,581Hodgson Dec. 10, 1929 2,108,566 Sanders Feb. 15, 1938

